In my return home from the World Race, an idol the Lord has repeatedly laid upon my own heart—one he has asked me to lay down at His feet—is this:

'fear of man'.

"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." Proverbs 29:25

The entire World Race, I felt this idol was very much removed from my heart—

the idolatry of the opinions of others.  

I was uninterested in performing for the sake of my reputation/image, status, or what a 'smart future plan' would look like to others. 

Since my return, Jesus has reminded me that one of my deepest struggles in adjusting back to life here is the new burden I've taken on—or rather, a very old one I've picked back up—in caring about how the world sees me, rather than serving the Father with a simple nature of obedience and love. 

Galatians 1:10 makes it so clear to us that we cannot succumb to an idolatry of pleasing man while still being servants of the Lord:

"or am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Wow.  Once again, we are blatantly reminded in God's Word that we are utterly incapable of serving two masters. 

So I must choose God. 

I must actively and intentionally choose God. 

I must take time in moments of weakness when I want to say the things that 'sound good', to ask the Lord for the words instead, despite what the reaction of the world might be. 

I must take time in moments of emotional hardship to ask the Lord to speak Truth over my life and silence the lies of the enemy.

I must choose to trust in the Lord's goodness and Truth, rather than seeking the approval of man—a disappointing counterfeit, providing merely a fleeting sense of false-approval.

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8

Jesus is the realest thing we could ever experience and know.

Why am I fearing man? Fearing punishment?  Fearing failure?

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." 1 John 4:18

Clearly, despite the Lord's gentle convictions, I have refused to commit to daily laying this at His feet.  I have not allowed myself to receive the Lord's love over fear of man. 

As I am writing this blog, I know I am meant to share with you all my heart in this so that I would be held accountable, be encouraged, and provide encouragement through God's Truth. 

We do not receive a spirit of hopelessness. 

We are Holy.

We are capable of surrendering even the most subtly sneaky idols of the enemy—which can sometimes appear good at first. 

We are capable because we have the willpower to come under the power of the Lord with a heart of humility, that He would be glorified in our weaknesses. 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We are capable because Jesus has given us a Spirit of power, love, and self-control. 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7

We are capable because the Lord asks us to cast our anxieties onto him, to hand him our burdens, and to take upon his yoke which is light!

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for us.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30

We are capable because with God all things are possible.

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

The reality is this:

Because of Jesus, we are more than capable.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.